Geraint Thomas leads Paris-Nice after stage four

Paris-Nice stage four victory goes to Tom Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp) as Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) takes over race lead in the 'Race to the Sun'

Tom Jelte-Slagter escapes with Geraint Thomas on stage four of the 2014 Paris-Nice Credit: Graham Watson

Geraint Thomas (Sky) has moved into the overall lead at Paris-Nice after finishing second on the fourth stage to Dutchman Tom Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp).

The Welshman countered a move from Slagter on the short but steep final climb of the Cote du Mont Brouilly with 13km to race, and the pair held off the fast finishing remnants of the peloton by five seconds on the line in Belleville.

Slagter pipped Thomas to the line, but it is the Sky rider who now leads the classification by three seconds from previous yellow jersey holder John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano).